Switch mechanism for direction indicators



Feb. 19, 1935. F. T. ROUTERY 1,991,960

SWITCH MECHANISM FOR DIRECTION INDICATORS Filed July 11, 1951 ATTOQ/YEK Patented Feb. 19, 1935 PATENT oFFicE ASWITCH MECHANISM FOR DIRECTION f INDICATORS t Francis Thomas Routery, Kingsway, Lambton Mills, Ontario, Canada Application July 11k, 1931, serial No. 550,070 e claims.` (ci. 20o-59) y The invention relates to a switch mechanism for directOIl indicators asdescribed in the present specification and illustrated in the accompnYingdrawi-ng which forms a part of the same. The invention consists essentially of the novel features of construction pointed out broadly and specifically in the claims fory novelty following a. description containing an explanation in detail of an acceptableform of the invention.

The objects of the invention are to devise a switch mechanism that can be easily attached to, thev steering column of various makes of carsV and which will automatically control the direction indicators mounted on the vehicle through the movements of the vehicle; to furnish a switch that willcontain means for giving a pre-Warning signaly prior to the turning of the vehicle either t9 the right or to the left as the case may be; to, enable the motorist to give his undivided attention to the driving of his vehicle and thereby insure better and safer driving; to construct a. switchv that `will be constantly in readiness for connecting or disconnecting the required signals and free the mind of the motorist from worry in Warning other cars or pedestrians of his intentions; and generally to provide an efcient switch for, directicn indicators of lcomparatively few parts, `easy to, instal and operate.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the switch having the cover `removed and connected to a. steering column of a vehicle.

Figure 2- is a side sectional view of the switch connected tota steering column. o

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the switc taken on the lines 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional viewof the switch taken onl the lines 4`4 in Figure 1.

Figure` 5 is a detail of the switch contact.

Figure. 6 isa detail of the interrupter.

Like numeralsof reference indicate corresponding parts in the `various figures.

Referring to the drawing `the switch mechanism for operating the direction indicators is in the .form of an insulated casing as indicated by the numeral 10 having the collar 11 which is adapted to engage the steering column 12 containing the steering post 13.

The casing 10 has the slot 14 extending into the collar wall 15 and which corresponds to the slotted portion 16 of the column 12 and through which projects a portion of the toothed wheel 17 and which abuts the steering post 13 and is pivotally mounted on the arm 18 and held in position by the screw member 19.

The arm 18 is pivotally mounted at one end to the boss 20 of the casing 10 and at the other end is engaged by a helical spring 21 which forms a buffer for the toothedwheel 17.

The pinion 22 and the cam 23 are flxedly secured together and are mounted on the pivot pin 24, the pinion engaging with the toothed wheel 17 and the cam 23 being engaged with the contact posts 25 and 26 which are inserted in the tubular passages 27 and 28 of the casing 10.

The contact posts 25 and 26p have the externally threaded ends 29 and 30 engaging with the internally threaded sleeves 3l and 32 having the shoulders 33 and 34 forming abutments for the helical springs 35 and 36 held thereagainst and within the passage by the cap screws 37 and 3,8.

The pivot pin 24 forms the contact tojthe e1eC-. trical interrupter39, the latter having the wire connection 40 to the battery 41 and the ground Wire 42 and the connection to the direction indicator lights 43.

The contact posts 25 and 26 when not in op. eration will be free. from'engagement with the cam 23 but upon the movement` of the toothed wheel 17, the cam will immediately rotate and thereby bring `the shoulders 44 and 45 of the cam into engagement with either the contact post 25 or the contact post 26 according to the direction in which the Vehicle is turning. f l

Upon contact being madey between the post and the cam, the electrical connection will immedif ately be made to one set of lights 43 through either the contact 46 or 47 of the posts 25 and 26, the circuit being completed through theinterrupter 39. When `the vehicle has made the turn, the cam will be rotated so that the shoulders thereof Willdisengage with the contact post in operation consequently disconnecting the. circuit, and the lights which were previously intermittently hashing will cease.

In this Way whichever direction the vehicler is about to turn a signal will automatically be given for the right or lef-t turn.

The liashing effect is attained through the electrical interrupter 39. 'I'his device is reallyla asher mechanism in itself and is similar to the small llashers used in connection with display counter signs, etc. where it is desired to have lights flash on and off. The small coil in the interrupter is the means whereby the contact is made and broken when the indicator lights are on.

In certain cases where it is desired to give a pre-warning signal there is provided in the switch mechanism the pusher posts and' 56 which are manually operated and flt in the tubular passages 53 and 54 of the casing. 10, the pusher posts having the neck portions 57 terminating in the head recesses 58 for the springs 59 held therein by the screw caps 60.

'I'he neck portions of the pusher posts are adapted to abut the sleeves of the contact arms or posts so that by pressing downwardly on one pusher post or the other it will have the effect of pressing forwardly one of the contact posts into connection with the cam and immediately energize the particular dashing indicators denoting the particular direction in which the vehicle is about to turn.

In neutral position when the vehicle is driven along straight the contact posts 25 and 26 are not in contact with the cam 23. When a corner is turned the shoulder 44 or 45 of the cam 23, depending on whether a right or left hand turn is being made, is brought into contact with either one of the contact posts 25 or 26. In other words there ls a clearance in the neutral position between the end ofthe contact posts 25 or 26 and the cam 23. It will be readily seen that when the cam is rotated, the shoulder portions being larger in diameter, will make contact with the contact posts 25 or 26 depending on whether a right or left hand turn is made. 'I'he shoulder portion in the cam is towards the top of the switch mechanism. In other words the normal clearance is taken up by the shoulder portions 44 or 45 upon rotation of the cam.

As hereinbefore stated, it will be seen that the pusher posts and 56 are only used Where it is desired to get a pre-warning signal. When either of the pusher posts 55 or 56 are pressed downwar'dly the contact post 25 or 26 is released and is forced into contact with the cam 23 by the helical spring 35, in other words, when in the neutral or oil' position, the contact posts 25 and 26 are held in their oil position by the shoulders 33 and 34 which form an integral part of the threaded sleeves 3l which slide backwardly and forwardly in the groove provided therefor.

Naturally when the pusher posts 55 or 56 are pressed down, the shoulder is released from its position against the pusher posts 55 or 56 and the spring forces the contact posts into engagement with the cam 23. When the turn has been completed the threaded sleeve will be found to have returned to its normal position in engagement with the pusher posts 55 or 56. It will thus be noticed that no resetting of the device is required after making a turn, the operation being entirely automatic.

After the vehicle has made the turn through the movement of the steering post the toothed wheel will rotate the pinion and cam to the oit position thereby forcing back the particular contact post from engagement and immediately the flashing signals will be disconnected at the same time the contact post reverting to its normal position will automatically push the manual post up so that both the automatic and manual posts are ready for the next operation.

It will therefore be seen that no matter if the rimiiwwuiiiiiwwam prewarning signal is not used the automatic posts will operate just the same.

What I claim is:

1. In a switch mechanism for direction indicators, a casing having means for attachment to a steering mechanism, said casing having a pair of horizontal tubular passages and a pair of vertical tubular passages adjacent to the former and having intercommunicating slots between each adjacent horizontal and vertical passage, an arm secured at one end within said casing and springheld at the other end, a toothed wheel rotatably mounted on said arm and engaging with a rotating part of said steering mechanism, a pinion and cam mechanism in said casing engaging with said toothed wheel, a pair of contact posts spring-held in the horizontal passages of said casing and adapted to be engaged and disengaged by said cam, a pair of manually operated pusher posts spring-held in the vertical passages of the casing and adapted to release the spring-held contact posts for engagement with said cam to give a prewarning signal.

2. In a switch mechanism for direction indicators, a casing having means for attachment to a steering mechanism, said casing having a pair of horizontal tubular passages and a pair of vertical tubular passages adjacent to the former and having intercommunicating slots between each adjacent horizontal and vertical passage, an arm secured at one end within said casing and springheld at the other end, a toothed wheel rotatably mounted on said arm and engaging with a rotating part of said steering mechanism, a pinion and cam mechanism in said casing engaging with said toothed wheel, a pair of internally threaded sleeves having shoulders and situated ln said horizontal passages, a pair of contact posts having externally threaded ends and engaging said internally threaded sleeves, cap screws closing in the entrances of said horizontal passages, helical springs abutting the shoulders of said sleeves and held thereagainst by said cap screws, said contact posts adapted to be engaged or disengaged by said cam, a pair of manually operated pusher posts spring-held in the vertical passages of the casing and adapted to release the spring-held contact posts for engagement with said cam to give a pre-warning signal.

3. In a switch mechanism for direction indig cators, a casing having a collar adapted to engage with a steering mechanism, a gear mechanisrn in said casing operated by the movement of one part of the steering mechanism, a pinion and cam mechanism connected to an electrical cir- FRANCIS THOMAS ROUTERY.

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